Camera



April 22, 1930. c, MOTT, -1,`7`55`;452

CAMERA Filed April 7, 1927 4 sheets-'sheet l C. MTTI Apgil 22, 1930.

CAMERA Filed April 7, 1927, 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VMM/mme.l Esme A70 Tn A plil 22, 1930. v( 1v MOT-n 1,755,452

cMERA Filed April 7, 1927 4 sheets-Sheet 3 1 jay;

, f l (55 Ai i. i F l 50 J' 5 g l i die i i J i i arme/Vb@ Patented Apr. 22, 1930 PATENT oFFicE `CSAR MOTTI, OF ALPES-MARITIME, FRANCE CAMERA .Application led April` 7, 1927, Serial No.

My invention relates to improvements in cameras in which a ground glass screen is used for focusing the image.

The various means now known to the art for focusing the image require a long and tedious as well as careful adjustment of -the photographic' apparatus. The disadvantages of the various finding devices now known may be briefly summed up as follows:

The use vof a ground glass focusing screen requires that the camera be mounted on a tripod and a great deal of time is wasted inadjusting thecamera before the exposure can be properly made.' That such an arrangement is :'15 not adapted for photographing moving ob-v jects is manifest.

` When findersare employed, only arelative accuracy is obtained inasmuch as the framing of the image andthe focusing of the lens is each performed separately, the latter usually being brought about by means of a graduated scale.

Finally, the various devices for framing the image by reflection, while they permit of rapid adjustment, vare usually heavy, costly and cumbersome. Furthermore, in preparing the camera for an exposure with such a device itis necessary' to View the camera from above thus -limiting the height at which the camera l may be placed', afeature which is often very objectionable such as taking a picture of a crowd, for example. y

It is the object of this invention to provide a device for performing the followingoperations automatically and in succession by merely-pressing a trigger. First, the rapid -removal of the focusing'screen; second, the replacement of this screen by a sensitized plate and third, the control of the shutter.

It is to be understood that while the device I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings ta-kes the form of an attachment for cameras, it might equally form an integral n part of the camera Without departing from the spirit of the invention as subsequently set forth in the appended claims.

I attain the advantages above' briefly out lined by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specication and, in which:

181,649, and 1n France December 1o, 192s.

Fig. 1, is a perspective View of the as mounted in its frame;

Fig. 2, is a similar view with parts broken away to show the interior mechanism; i

Fig. 3, represents a detail View of the mechanism;

Fig. 4, is a similar plan View;

l Fig. 5, is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4; Figs. 7, -8 and 9 are sectional perspective views illustrating different stages of opera-v tion of the device Fig. `10 -is a developed view of the curtain I use;

device Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrams illustrating the operation of certain parts and their position during certain stages of the operation; 4 A

Figs. 16 is a view in perspective of the platecarrler; Y

Fig. 17 is a view in perspective of the frame which carries the plate carrier and;

Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are side elevational views similar to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 with parts broken away to better illustratev the mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar numerals refer to simila parts throughout the several views, 1 represents a sort of box or frame in which the device is contained and is provided with openings 2 and 3 in its front and rear walls (see Figs. 1 and 7). Opening 2 is provided with arectangular frame '4 to -aid in adapting the device to various sized cameras and adjusting and attaching the device toa photographic apparatus.

The upper extremity of fra-me 1 is -provided with a larve slot 5 in which a second frame 6 is slidably mounted to mve laterally by means of guide-strips or ribs 7 and corresponding guideways 8 provided on member 6 and the interior laterally extending members 13 of member 5, respectively. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 16) The frame 6 is furnished with a chamber 9 f which is open at its lower extremity and -allows a plate-holder 11 (Fig. 17) to be inserted from the bottom. Said plate-holder comprises a 4T-shaped base member built up of a rectangular strip 12 and two ribs 14 extending at right angles thereto. Integral with the base member are two flexible rectangular frames 15, between which the sensitized plate (not represented in this 4ligure) is gripped.

Member 6 ist provided with a soft material 16 such as velvet, against which ribs 14 of member 11 abutwhen it is elevated.

On the interior offrame 1 is mounted a movable carriage 17 which is provided with two longitudinally extending flanges 18 which are adapted to occupy a position between members 13 in slot 5 when said carriage is in its uppermost position. The flanges 18 receive the ribs 14 of the plate-holder which is inserted when the carriage is in its uppermost position.

At one end of the carriage 17 a curtain 20 is fastened at 19. Said curtain is adapted to have its opposite end wound on a roller 21. Roller 21 is adapted to be governed by an adjustable spring (not shown) the tension of which tends to wind the curtain on the roller.

A celluloid film 24 having a ground surface is attachedat one end to the lower portion of the carriage and is adapted tooccupy the precise position of that to be subsequently occupied by the sensitized plate when the exposure is being made.

The lower end 25 of Celluloid member 24 is adapted to be wound on a roller 26 (see Figs. 7 to 9) suitably journaled in the frame 1. Roller 26 like roller 21 is adapted to be governed byl an adjustable spring which constantly tends to wind member 24 upon its roller.

The endof carriage 17 opposite to that to which curtain 2() is attached, 1s provided with a strip 27, the extremities ofwhich carry guides 28 adapted to slide in guideways formed by two strips 29, Iwhen the carriage 17 is displaced. 'Beneath the member 27 is disposed the mechanism for controlling the movement of a second curtain 30 which will now be taken up in detail with reference to Figs. 3 to 6.

The two remaining sides of carriage 17 are. furnished with two catches 31 and 32. Catch 31 which is placed nearest the edge of the carriage comprises merely a bar sliding in an opening 34 of the carriage and is constantly urged outwardly by a spring 33. Said catch is provided with a cam surface 35 which is 'adapted to contact with a pin 62 when carriage 17 is in its lowest positionv thus drawingr catch 31 into the opening 34 (see Fig. 13). In all other positions of the carriage member 31 is free to move outwardly under the action of s ring 33. Catch 32 likewise is convenient y mounted beneath carriage 17 and. comprises a member 36 in which a bar 32 having an inclined projecting extremity is mounted. Said bar is urged outwardly by means of a spring 37.

A member 38 is pivoted to carriage 17 at 39 and is arranged to contact the inclined surthe carriage is in its uppermost position, bar- 32 being free to move in all other positions of the carriage.

The curtain 30, above briefly referred to yand shown in development in Fig. 10, is

adapted to take the place of the usual shutter. This curtain has its lower extremity 43 attached to a roller 44 and is adapted to be wound thereon.

lRoller 44 is adapted to be placed under tension similar to rollers 21 and 26 by an adjustablespring by means of knob 45. The adj usting elements of the springs for all three rollers consist of nothing more than the usual pawl and ratchet, so old and well known in the art that illustration has been thought unnecessary.

Immediately above the extremity 43 of curtain 30 is an opening 46 of the same size as the sensitive plate on which the exposure is to be made. This portion of the curtain is connected to a solid portion 47 immediately above 1t by means of the laterally extending strips 48forming the sides of the opening. These strips are concealed by the main frame of the device when in use. The lower edge of por tion 47 of curtain 30 is reenforced by a metal strip 49 containing holes 50 in which the bars 31 are adapted to enter.

Above the portion 47 is an openin 51 of suitable dimensions, similar to 46 t rough which the exposure is made. The sides of said openings comprise strips 55 which are attached to a solid portion 56 Aimmediately above. The lower edge of the portion 56 is reenforced by a metal rod 54 containing slots 53 adapted to receive bars 32. Ther upper extremity of curtain 30 is attached to and adapttion of frame 1 and maintaining the carriage v7 in its uppermost position.

Strips 63 are provided along the edges of curtain 30 for covering the same where it passes in front of opening 2.v

l The function of the device is as follows: y Assume that the frame 1 is mounted at the end of a dark chamber of a camera through the medium of member 4 and that tain 30 moves downward stituted for the focusing screen free and will enter the camera is of a type without a shutter or with an open shutter. The carriage is .moved to its uppermost position The sensitized plates, or they may bein the form of films, are placed in the plate-carrier 11 between the flexible members 15 after which the whole is inserted in frame 6 from the bottom so that ribs 14 of member 11 abut the lower portion of member 6 and are embraced by flanges 18 on carriage 17. ing the frame 6 laterally in slot 5.

With carriage 17 and curtain 30 each in their uppermost positions, bars 31 will be holes 50 in said curtain whereas bars 32 will be held from entering their corresponding slots 53 by member 40 ,(Fig. v11). The curtain 30 in this position is completely'wound on its upper roller 57 and is maintained thus by means of pawl 60 and lever 61. Bars 31 carried by member 17 lodge themselves in o enings 53 of curtain 30 and retain carriage 17 in,its uppermost position against the tractive effort of member 24 tending to 'be wound on roller 26 and the weight of thevlower portion of member 30. The carriage 17 is further retained in its upper position by means of the safety catch 64 which is actuated by lever 61.

f The curtain 24 which has its surface ground and acts as a focusing screen occupies the major portion of the interior of the apparatus but is disposed in such a manner as not to interfere with curtain 30 which acts as a shutter. In the position above describedthe curtain 30 presents its opening immediately -in front of curtain 24 and allows the `image to bethrown on the latter in the usual manner.

The image being properly focused and adjusted upon screen 24, lever61 is pressed and the following' operations take place one after another, automatically:

Catch 64 being released and roller 57y being free to turn, pawl 60 having been raised, curunder the action of spring roller 44, carrying with it the carriage 17 and the sensitized plate mounted thereon. Itis thus seen that the sensitized plate is suband thatin its new'position it is protected from the light by curtains 20- and 30 the former curtain having been unwound from Kits roller during the descent of the carriage and the latter curtain having also been unwound and presented the opaque portion 47 immediately above the opening 46 before the sensitized member. During descent of the carriage screen ,24 winds upon its spring roller 26. The descending movement of the carriage is retarded by the expenditure of the energy in spring rollers 26 and 44 which is opposed by the energy transmitted to spring roller 21 throughl curtain 20 being unwoundy therefrom.

Members 15 on the plate-carrier are arranged to project slightly into the frame 6 when the carriage is in its lowest position,

This is accomplished by slidf which facilitates the entrance of the plate carrier into the slot 9 of member 6 when the carriage is moved subsequently in the inverse direction. Such a construction also prevents premature removal of the plate carrier and hence the sensitized plate, not be moved longitudinally so long as the carriage on which it is mounted is in its lowest position.

When carriage 17 reaches the bottom of frame 1, the cam portion 35 on member 31 slides over the stationary pin 62 and withdraws said member from the opening 50. The two bars 31 being thus withdrawn, curtain 30 is liberated froln carriage 17 and continues to descend due to the energy left in sprin roller 44 and the momentum of the curtain. uring this operation, the opening 51 in curtain 30 passes before and exposes the sensitized member `carried by carriage 17. Bars 32 during the operation of the device thus far described merely slide idly over bar 49 carried on the curtain and the surface 47 of the curtain. y

The relative position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 12.

The curtain continues to descend until completely wound upon its roller 44 (Fig. 13), at

which time bars 32 entervthe openings 53 on bar 54 and the opaque space 56 of curtain 30 descends in front of the sensitized-member.

When it is desired to make another exposure the parts are all restored to their initial position by turning knob 58. This result is brought about in the following manner Rotation of knob 58 rotates roller 57 and winds up curtain 3() thereon. Since'the curtain is now moved in the opposite direction, bars 32 no longer slide idly over the surface of the curtain but are carried along by bar 54 due to their straight sides being presented to the bottom of openings 53. 'Carriage 17 is -thus carried upward with curtain 30 and the sensitized plate is returned to the frame 6 Vwhere it may be removed and a new plate inserted. 'When' the curtain reaches the top, that is,v completely wound upon its roller 57, bars 32 are withdrawn from slots 53 in bar 54 through the action of pivoted member 38 contacting with the inclined surface of said bar at its cam surface 40. Immediately thereafter bars 31 snap into their openings 50 on bar 49 carried by curtain 30. The parts are illustrated in theirl relative positions during this last operation in Figs.. 14 and 15. Curtain`30 and hence carriage 17 are retained in-their positions, with said curtain completely woundv ty catch is shown at 64 and may be of any convenient'form such as merely a' strip of spring metal bent over at one end. When llever 61 releases pawl 6() it releases said safety catch at the same time.

for frame 6 can- Restoration of the parts to their original osition also carries the focusing screen 24 before the camera lens and allows protecting curtain 2O to be rewound upon its spring roller 21.

The plate carrier is thus finally returned to the frame 6 and the focusing screen substituted in place thereof automatically by merely turning knob 58. To take another plcture it is merely necessary to slide frame 6 from its slot 5 and substitute in place thereof another frame containing an unexposed plate.

Many variations in my apparatus may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from my invention, since What I claim is- 1. A photographic apparatus having a focusing screen, a casing mounted at the upper extremity thereof having a sensitized member therein and means for automatically removing said focusing screen and substituting said sensitized member in place thereof.

2. A photographic apparatus having a main casing, a second casing slidably mounted at the upper extremity thereof, a slidably mounted carriage within said main casing, a plate holder mounted on said carriage and normally extending into said second casing, a flexible focusing screen having one end attached to said carriage and means for removing said focusing screen and substituting said plate holder in place thereof.

3. A photographic apparatus having a main casing, ed at the upper extremity thereof, a slidably mounted carriage within said main casing, a plate holder mounted on said carriage and adapted to enter said second casing when said carriage is in the uppermost position, a spring roller mounted at the bottom of said main casing, a exible focusing screen having one end attached to said roller and the other end attached to said carriage, releasable means for retaining said carriage in its upper posied at the upper extremity thereof, a mounted carriage withinsaid main tion and means for retarding the movement of said carriage by said spring roller.

4. A photographic apparatus having a main casing, a second casing slidably mountslidably casing, a detachable longitudinally sliding plate holder mounted on said carriage and adapted to enter said second casing when said carriage is in the uppermost position, a-spring roller mounted at the bottom of said main casing, a flexible focusing screen having one end attached to said roller and the other end attached to said carriage, releasable means for retaining said carriage in its upper position, a second spring roller mcunted in the upper portion of said main casing and a flexible opaque member having one end attached to said carriage and the other end attached to said second roller and adapted to oppose a second casing slidably mount- -lng said sensitized the motion of said carriage when moved by said first mentioned spring roller.

5. A photographic a paratus having an open frame, a casing sli ably mounted at the upper extremity thereof, a sensitized'member within said casing, a focusing screen within said frame, means for automatically removing said focusin screen and substituting said sensitized memer in place thereof and means for automatically protecting said sensitized member from the open portions of said frame. e y

r6. A photographic apparatus having an open frame, a casing slidably mounted at the upper extremity thereof, a slidably mounted carriage within said open frame, a plate holder mounted on said carriage and normally extending into said second casing, a'

flexible focusing screen having one end attached to said carriage, means for removin said focusing screen and substituting said plate holder in place thereof and automatic means for protecting said plate holder from the open portions of said frame atersaid plate holder has been substituted for said focusing screen.

7. A photographic ap aratus having an open frame, a casing slida ly mounted at the upper extremity thereof, a slidably mounted carriage within said open frame, a plate holder mounted on said carriage and adapted to enter said second casing when said carnage is in the uppermost position, a spring roller mounted at the bottom of said open frame, a flexible focusing screen having one end attached to said roller and the other end attached to said carriage, releasablemeans for retaining said carriage in its upper position and a single means for retarding the movement of said carriage by said sprin roller and for protecting said plate holder from the open portion on one side of said frame when said plate holder is moved to a position opposite thereto.'

8. A photographic a paratus having open frame, a caslngsli upper extremity thereof, a slidably mounted carriage 'within said open frame, a plateholder mounted on said carriage and adapted to enter said second casing when said carriage is in the uppermost position, means for causing said plate holder to be automatically substituted -in place of said focusing screen and means for protecting said plate holder from the open portions of said frame and for subsequentl exposing said holder through one of said frame openings.

9. A photographic apparatus having an open frame, a casmg slidably mounted at the upper extremity thereof, a ber within said casing, a focusing screen within said frame, means for automatically removing said focusing screen and substitutmemberin place thereof, means for automatically protecting said senan ably mounted at thesensitized memgaaV sitized member from the open portions of said frame' and means for subsequently automatically exposing said sensitized member to one of said open portions and finally recovering said sensitized member where exposed.

10. A photographic apparatus having a rectangular frame open at each end, guide- Ways-in said frame and a movable carriage mounted in said guideways, a focusing screen adapted to be Wound upon a spring roller When said carriage is moved toward the bottom of said frame and unwound from said roller when said carriage is moved to the top of said frame, a shielding curtain adapted to be unwound from a spring roller when said carriage is moved toward the bottom of said frame and wound on said roller when said carriage is moved toward the top of said frame, an operating curtain having a nonspring roller at one end thereof and adapted to be unwound therefrom when said carriage descends and means for disconnecting and subsequently connecting said carriage to said last mentioned roller.

11. A photographic apparatus having a rectangular frame open at each end, guide- Ways in said frame and a movable carriage mounted in said guideways, a focusing screen having one end attached to said carriage and the other en'd adapted to be Wound on a spring roller when said carriage descends, a shielding curtain having one end attached to the end of said carriage and the other end adapted to be unwound from a spring roller when said carriage descends, an operating curtain attached intermediate its ends to the opposite end of said carriage and adapted to be un- Wound from a non-spring roller when said carriage descends, a focusing opening .iii said curtain and an opaque protecting portion adjacent thereto and means f or withdrawing said opaque portion from in front of said carriage when said carriage is in the loweriiiost position.

12. In a photographic exposing and focusing apparatus, a focusing screen, a sensitized plate holder, automatic means for Withdravving said focusing screen and substituting said plate holder in place thereof, automatic means for protecting said plate holder from the light on one side thereof when moved into place, means on the other side of said plate holder comprising a movable operating curtain having a focusing opening, an opaque f portion, an exposing opening and a second opaque portion disposed successively thereon'iand means for automaticallysynchronizing the movement of said curtain With that of said plate holder.

13. In a photographic apparatus a frame having an opening therethrough, a focusing screen and means for inserting said focusing screen in said opening, a plate holder and means for replacing said focusing screen by said plate holder, automatic means for covering said'plate holder -o'ii each side vvheri'v in posit-ion and subsequently exposing one side of said plate holder to said opening, ymeans for returning said plateholder to its initial position and means for rendering said last" mentioned means inoperative when said plate holder is restoredto its normal position.

14. In a photographic apparatus a frame having an opening therethrough, a carriage mounted in the upper extremity of said opening, releasable means for retaining said carriage in its upper position, means operable by said carriage for covering one end of said opening-When said cariiage descends, a second means operabley by said carriage com!v prising a curtain having an opening no1- mally in line withthe opening in said frame,

an opaque portion on said curtain adjacent rier when released, means for releasing said curtain from said plate carrier when the latter has' reached a predetermined position,

an opaque portion on said curtain adapted to be brought in front of said plate carrier`l when released from said curtain, means for moving said curtain independentlyv of said carriage after release therefrom, an opening and an opaque portion on said curtain adapted to be brought successively before said plate holder, means on said plate holder for" automatically connecting it to the curtain when said opaque portion is presented before said plate holder, and means for returning said curtain toits initial position thereafter.

16. In a photographic apparatus having a movable carriage adapted to carry a plate holder, an operating curtain, a plurality of catches on said carriage adapted to engage said curtain when said carriage is in its'up-- permost position, a plurality of catches adapted to engage said curtain when said carriage is in its lowermost position and means for automatically synchronizing the movement of said catches with the movement of said curtain. i

17. In an apparatus of the type described lll an open frame having an elongated slot at the upper extremity thereof, a casing slid- 4 ably mounted in said slot having an opening at the bottom thereof, a plate holder inserted in said opening, a movable carriage beneath said opening Within said frame and means on said carriage for embracing the lower extremity of saidplate holder.

18. In an apparatus of the type described v oo an open frame having an elongated slot at the upper extremity thereof, guideways in said slot, a casing having ribs sliding in said guideways and an opening 'at the bottom thereof, a plate holder inserted in said opening having ribs at the bottom thereof, a, mov able `carriage beneath said vopening Within said frame and a guideway on said carriage embracing said last mentioned ribs.

CSAR MoTTI. 

